At birth. It may be
affirmed at one's Bar / Bat Mitzvah when the young 13-year-old boy or girl becomes
responsible to follow the Torah, the Law of God. A Jew is considered to
"already" be a member of the covenant people and there is no need to be
"born again." The Talmud says all Jews have a part in the world to
become because they are "born" Jews. [Special privilege for Jews]

By adoption, at salvation,
(It may be as a child at some age of accountability, or as an adult; either way it
involves a person's will, an informed conscience, a conviction of sin and a decision to
trust in God and His Messiah.) Being born a Jew does not guanatee entrance
into the kingdom of God or one's place with God in eternity. [It also is
available equally to Jews and gentiles on the same basis.]

FREE WILL (PRIOR TO
SALVATION)

What mans
choice does:

Is God omniscient, knowing all? Yes

How free
is man: Absolute freedom

God will not override human choice

Man attains to salvation, no free gift

Redemption depends on Israels repentance

Repentance is an act whereby you are forgiven and made right with God. Man does
not wait for God to come to him.

Man determines his own fate. Man is less dependent upon
God's initiative.

Yes

Not free  yet still responsible
for ones actions

God is sovereigneven over mans choices

Man undergoes salvation by - Gods gift

While we were yet sinners, Messiah died for Israel

Repentance does not change the person; It only leads a person to the
Savior who then forgives and cleanses the sinner.

No salvation to accept. Must continue to work for repair of broken world

God doesnt act prior to repentance

Man takes first steps to God

Repentance atones for sins

Individual

Personal: from sin nature

Through the new birth, a radically changed nature

Must accept a salvation, by faith, already procured by the act of God
in Christ for us.

Gods action precedes repentance

God takes first step to remove barrier bet God & man

God makes atonement for sin

SIN / PROBLEM OF EVIL

Human ethics:

Life is a series of choices

Man alone responsible to stop sinning

OT commands presuppose human freedom to obey the Law (Torah)

Sins (plural), no sin nature

At birth: all born with a pure and holy soul (thus sins habits are acquired)

Nature has an evil "inclination"

No need to be saved from sin, you have to overcome it

Evil: need not exist in life

Devil: None or little emphasis

Overcome: by mans action

Man gets the victory (daily/Yom Kippur)

Man helps God to triumph

Sin can be overcome by change

Sin is an act (you can stop)

Talk of moral change

Self-salvation

Power to live right -available afteryou're saved

Man in bondage, cant stop sinning

Law not meant to be a strict guide for all time  but point to ones
inadequacy to keep Law.

Man is born with a Sin nature and thus sins.

At birth: inherited sinful nature

Nature of man: not inclined but "driven" to sin

Everyone (Jew & gentile) need salvation from sin

Evil: will always exists in the world because of indwelling sin
and the existence of a devil who controls those under sins dominion and is the god
of this age who blinds all mankind - holds people captive

Overcome: by God s action

God gets the victory (At Calvary- the place where Jesus died and atoned for our sins)

God needs no help. He did it all.

Change effected by action of the Holy Spirit

Sin is your whole life that must die

Sin is an indwelling power, cant stop it

A Savior-Redeemer brings salvation / regeneration

MEDIATION (HUMAN
APPROACH TO GOD)

Suffering: Its purpose

Concept of Sacrifice:

Substitution:

Vicarious:

Can you discover God by

Reason and logic alone?

Human effort (ethical behavior) adequate to
reach God

Man's future judgment- based on his deeds

Image of God in man allows him to always return to God - make teshuvah

Israels suffering

Isa. 53 = Israel suffers for world

Departure from the OT

No "gap" bet. God and man

Reason prevails

Guidebook: Torah (613 precepts/Laws)

Unity bet. God & man is never broken

All Jews inherit the world to come

All human effort inadequate

Man judged by
deeds for future rewards only (not personal salvation)

Man is blinded and doesnt know the way- needs light for his path

Suffering (by itself) doesnt effect any salvation

Isa. 53: a person suffers for Israel

Similar to and true to OT biblical faith

(prophets, priest, angels)

A gap between God and man

Mans reason darkened- must hear about Messiah  called special
revelation; Guidebook: Torahonly leads us to Messiah

Basically agrees with this one role of the Messiah. But the Orthodox view is incomplete
because Messiah must suffer first before entering into his glory (resurrection and
kingdom ruling role)

1. Messiah dies "for" sins and "in place of " sinners as a
substitute

2. Messiah suffers for Jews and gentiles

3. Sins of the world atoned for by the

invasion by the King into this world

Person of a Redeemer/Messiah is central

Messiah commands obedience

Makes claims of loyalty upon man himself

Forgives sin

Mediates between man and God

Redeems and restoresman

Renews his spirit

Reveals God alone

THE TORAH &
REVELATION: No. of ages / dispensations

What is the "Jewish" Bible?

THE TORAH & REVELATION

Is there a valid Oral Law?

Only one dispensation. It is Law.
[Jewish history, the prophets and wisdom books do not abrogate Moses. They are of minor
importance for daily living.]

Do not acknowledge an "Old" Testament.

There is one Jewish Bible called the "Tanach" with the Pentateuch being the
special part of the Canon.

The NT = the gentile/Christian Bible);

Orthodox believe in 2nd Law: Oral Law

Canon: (See above)

Even though there are obvious doctrinal beliefs that the rabbis adhere to, the emphasis
is always on Orthopraxy or (Practice); Jews are to "practice" or obey
Rabbis interpretations of Torah

Obedience first

Moses is central

Laws purpose: (See atonement above and discussion on ethics)

Gift from God; Final word from God

Ratify covenant by keeping Torah

2 Ages/Phases: Gods plan of
salvation is progressive: Law preparatory for and leads to Messiah who keeps and fulfills
O.T. Law perfectly: N.T. records the final act of salvation

The Word
"Old" acknowledged since believers are no longer under the commands of Torah for
salvation. The "New" covenant of salvation without works/Torah takes precedence.

There is one Jewish Bible but it includes more than just the Pentateuch and
includes the rest of the OT canon and the NT.

The NT is a Jewish document which was also written by Jews (except Luke) and reveals
the Jewish Messianic salvation. Discuss "To the Jew first" passage in
Rom. 1:16

Reject any validity to the idea/myth of a 2nd Torah given at Mt. Sinai
(which purpose of this Oral Law, according to tradition, was to interpret and apply
written Law for every area of ones daily life.)

All OT books canonical plus NT (= one Bible); The prophets give further revelation re:
Messiah, eschatology / end of the Age theology, though they do call Israel back to obeying
Torah/The Law. All Scripture given by inspiration (not just 5 Books):

Emphasis: Orthodoxy (right belief); Right practice follows a changed life and
the changed life comes from believing what God has revealed about salvation in both the
Old and New Testaments.

The knowledge of God first leads to faith (Rom. 10:17). Works follow faith.

Jesus has the Final Word which is mediated through Pauls understanding of gospel
(Pauls teaching is central in NT)

Laws purpose: preparation and guide to Christ/Messiah

Torah: Gods gift but not the Last Word from God.

Faith before works; No more "keeping of Torah"; no need to ratify Torah
because Messiah Jesus (Yeshua) fulfilled Torah. (See Matt. 5:17)